And now for something completely different...

No pictures of things I have knitted, either on or off the needles today. However, I still have lots of pictures...

First of all, I forgot to mention yesterday that my sister gave me a hank of gorgeous NZ wool she picked up on her recent holiday across the Tasman - it is spun from both white and black sheep so has a natural colour. My mum also got a ball (bottom left - which I wound up for her with my new toys) and has started to knit a satchel with it. She loves it because the colour perfectly matches this cute NZ sheepie scarf she found at a football game last year so she will have a co-ordinating set.

Secondly - here is the tea-cosy that sis gave to Mum yesterday, used as intended (rather than Nico's interesting interpretation of the item). My sister has a really funky modern tea-pot. It looks great, makes a HUGE pot of tea but unfortunately doens't fit stock standard tea-cosys - that's how mum ended up with this one. And by the way, this isn't made in a self-striping yarn, but Patons inca, which has three different colours plyed together, and each ply changes colour at a different place in the yarn from the others. It is just the flash photography that makes it look like this.

Also, on cool things my sister has done- she made me three funky stitch markers that spelt out my name (two are on the far left - the third is marking the Dale Ladybug Sweater) and inspired me to make my own. I don't have the talent for making my own jewellery like she does, but I think I have done okay with the stitch-markers. You can't read it in the photo, but those small round green ones have "I <3 to knit" written in the middle. (hmm, just checked the YarnHarlot, and we are both posting about beads today - kooky, eh)

And finally, some cute doggie pics, as I probably won't have a chance to post again until after the weekend. From left to right:-

- Pierre and his "uncle" Max - not growling and chasing each other round my parents house for a change,

- Pierre enjoys a good yarn (it's a length of Totem left over from Dilby's jumper - I used it to distract him from the toy Max was playing with)

- And my baby, looking oh-so-sweet-and-innocent, sleeping on my lace panel sweater.

Humble Pie...

Well, it was bound to happen. I was bragging about finished objects so early in the year.

You see, yesterday, after I had completed the Almost Tiger Socks I immediately cast on for yet another pair of socks for Tuffers from that final ball of ONline I ordered specifically for his socks.

My Mum and I drove to the other side of Melbourne today to visit my currently health-challenged sister. My Mum was driving, so I was guaranteed at least two hours knitting time - before we got stuck in the citylink carpark for at least half an hour and being delayed slightly for Westgate Bridge roadworks - and went driving around to closed yarn shops (we were going to check out Marta's Yarns, and when we got there, there was a sign that said "closed until further notice" - we had a good peek in the windows, and I now remember reading somewhere that Marta is sick?) so by the time we were heading back into the outskirts of Geelong in the afternoon I had completed the heel (I still want to say turned the heel, even though I use short rows) and completed a good three inches above that when I looked at the sock and thought

"That foot looks a bit small"

I then tried the sock on, and it fit my foot quite comfortably. And then, being in denial, I got Dad (who has the same size feet as Tuffers) to try the sock on when we got home, and sure enough - it was at least an inch to small...

So a frogging we went. I appear to have gotten a tad bit overconfident with all the socks I have been knitting lately.


This is the current state of the sock. This is going to be the "Very Manly Sock" - the colours could only mean it is a mans sock, and I am using a nice manly wide 5x1 rib. And most of the knitting has been done whilst the cricket was on the TV or radio, so it has been absorbing manly sporting vibes. I was going to take a picture of it next to manly objects such as powertools and beer mugs, but thought we might avoid anything that could damage the sock I obviously had such bad karma around me. (I was scared I would get a rogue drill that would attack the sock, yarn and my favourite DPNs even without being plugged in)

Anyway - the visit with my Sis went well. She has a shocking cold / flu, but the drugs kicked in enough that we were able to check out a couple of LYSs - As already stated, Marta's was closed, but we went to a button store on Glenferrie Rd (creatively named The Button Shop) which has heaps of yarn in stock - it doesn't have any fancy displays, the store isn't user friendly, the prices aren't particularly cheep and the customer service wasn't the best, but boy did they have some yarn there. There were different Patons labels from the past three decades on some of the yarn sitting in bags on shelfs. I got some loopy mohair, and plan to make some funky teddy-eared beanies for winter - and Ladybug buttons for the Dale ladybug sweater. If you are looking for staple yarns from Patons, Cleckheaton, Panda or Shepard I'd recommend checking it out - there seem to have all the different types of yarn each produces, including discontinued lines and colours.

Sis, spending her ill days on the couch in front of the TV, has been keen into the knitting - she gave my Mum a cute tea-cosy from the latest issue of Yarn, finished the Bejewelled scarf while we were there, and we saw one of her hiking socks from a previous issue of yarn. She said she was going to put pictures up so go visit her blog and check it out (and if there aren't pictures there tell her to stop being so gawdamm lazy ;))

chicken legs and duck feet

Another finished object - yes, I am on fire this year...

These are Tuffer's xmas socks #3 that I didn't finish on NYE. The ankles and feet look disproportionate (like chicken legs and duck feet - hence the title of the post) because the ankle in completed in 3x3 rib - Tuffers has high arches and was having a little trouble getting the ankle of the sock past his heel. I increased 8 stitches round the ankle and switched to rib so am hoping this might rectify this problem.

The orange looks a bit bright here, but these colours are 'manly' enough for Tuffers. Due to the colours, and the fact you cannot get the real-deal Tiger striping sock, these have been renamed as Tuffers' Almost Tiger socks

THE STATS (in which I blatently copy Wendy)
Name: Tuffers' Almost Tiger socks
Pattern: WGTUP - slightly modified to include that super stretchy ankle ribbing
Yarn: Opal petticoat (don't tell Tuffers it has such a girly name)
Yarn source: Wildpurl
Needles: Tulip Bamboo DPNs 2.75mm (15cm long)
Completed: 02 January 2007

I spent a bit of time playing around with new blogger last night (sorry if you get old posts in your feeds) and was up past Pierre's bedtime. He crashed out in my lap, and didn't even stir when I reached for the camera to take a picture. He has been causing lots of trouble at Mum's (he keeps stealing items from her panda collection - obviously has an affinity for the black and white) so it was a nice change for him to be so quiet.

First FO for 07

I didn't work on Tuffers Xmas socks #3 last night, but I did knit...

That gorgeous stormy sea handpainted angora yarn I bought in Tarcutta was calling to me. It was telling me it really, really wanted to be a hat.

But not just any hat - this was a special yarn so it needed to be a hat with class...

So at about 7pm last night I cast-on, did a little shaping, made a little brim, and generally just played and created the pattern as I went along...

and Voila!

May I present Roarin' Forties, a very cute, top-down, in-the-round hat.

I had just enough yarn in the 56gm skein - this is all that I have left! (also, this picture is a truer represntation of the colour of the yarn, for some reason all of the lovely stormy sea greens tend to so up some icky yellow in all the pictures I took of the hat)

I think this is one of the fastest projects I have completed, taking less than 24 hours from start to finish, but Mum keeps telling everyone it took me a whole year (having started in 2006 and not finishing til 07)

THE STATS (in which I blatently copy Wendy)
Name: Roarin' Forties
Pattern: My Own
Yarn: Annie Gregg Design handpainted angora 8ply (DK, sportweight)
Yarn source: Farmhouse Industries Craft Shop, Tarcutta
Needles: 3.75mm DPNs, circular 40cm and circlar 80cm
Completed: 01 January 2007

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE - wishing you many stitches and few bitches!

the '06 FO gallery

I started the blog to motivate me, and to keep track of my achievements - seeing as it is the end of the year it is a good time to check out what I have accomplished...

My first socks - done the traditional 'heel flap' way, way back in Febuary/March were enough to keep me entertained while I was stuck on a military base in the outer suburbs of Melbourne during the Commonwealth Games, but not enough to give me the "sock-bug"


Pierre's dog mat - my first ever woven project on my loom

Josephine - the blanket you can wear

The Jet lace panel sweater - no doubt my favourite piece of clothing, I have been wearing it everyday here in Geelong during this questionable summer weather

The Mermaid Jacket - sat around for nearly a year before completion

The Sock of Doom - not actually a completed pair (well, not by me anyway) but my first participation in an inter-web exchange.

The ISE scarf that went for a trip overseas.


Dog rug #2 - now making a happy home in Melbourne

The Grizzly - an adventure in sewing madness

Tuffer's Jaywalkers



Yarn - I figured out how to use my spinning wheel

A present for a friend's baby

Dad's "sockings"


Tuffer's xmas socks #1
Tuffer's xmas socks #2






And, as mentioned in the previous post, I have completed the Super-funkified-reversible-double-knit-weasley-sweater aka Dilby's xmas present.

There are a couple of other items that I completed before I started blogging, but I don't have pictures so won't include them here.

I plan to be knitting in the New Year, so hopefully Tuffers Xmas socks #3 will be finished before the clock strikes 12 adding another FO to the count

proof somebody reads this blog...

Remember when I posted about calendars?

Well, it turns out that Lucy-lou was paying attention because when we did out mini-(early)-xmas when I was in Canberra last week, I got to open this:-


L-L mentioned that she would love to hang this calendar in her house, but it has a couple of naughty words in it not suitable for Dilby... or perhaps Grandmothers ;)

It turns out that while I live a little vicariously at her house with her doing the 'mum' thing, she lives a little vicariuosly at my house doing the no-kids thing.

My Mum, an avid cross-stitcher thought this was a hoot...

Oh yeah, and my (little/younger) big tough brother likes the calendar too. I may have to buy my Mum the books so she can make a "boo f@$!#ing hoo" sampler for him to hang just inside his front door (when you're a 21 yo male with a chip on your shoulder I believe you can get away with such cheek ;)

And while I am following up on previous posts -

The charts from Vogue knitting arrived a few weeks ago, silly me didn't blog it though.

Looking at these charts I am certain that if they shrunk down the front panel chart and had a creative lay-out editor they could have fit both charts on one A4 page in the mag. But then, I guess they might have cut out the cool article on knitting in the Potter-verse..

And speaking of Harry Potter, I finished the super-funkified-reversible-double-knit-weasley-sweater aka Dilby's xmas present this morning. No FO pics just yet (I am waiting to 'un-veil' it when I get back up to L-L's later this week), but in the background of this WIP shot of Brenda's socks you can see the garish orange flair that is the sweater under flash photography.

Yes, I finished the heel on Brenda's socks today too (it was a productive morning). My cables-sans-cable-needle are improving quite a bit, and I may even have the technique down pat by the time I finish the second sock :)

kniterature review - Knit 2 Together

As promised, here is the kniterature review of Tracy Ullman and Mel Clarks joint ventre.

Although I did rant about about knitting books with 'learn to knit' (hereafter referred to as LTK) sections, this one slipped through because that horrid section is way up the back of the book. I would have preferred an extra pattern or two, but I settled for not having the idiot section right in my face at the first page.
The book contains a couple of short knitting anecdotes throughout, but is really much more of a pattern book.



Most of the patterns are delightful - I especially like the Ponsonby Suit (shown left) which uses a technique called "binding stitches" which I had not heard of before. The jacket is definately on the to-do list, and once I see how the fabric looks I will decide about the skirt. (I am extremely dubious about knitted skirts, I am convinced they will all stretch out of shape!).
This herringbone doctor's bag has also been a favourite from everyone I have shown the book too.

I really like this book because, even though it has the horrid LTK section, it does not assume that you are beginner and the patterns are not all 'easy' nor 'quick'. There is a gorgeous stranded colour work vest, and a loverly lace shrug that would stretch a beginners skills.

However, like all publications, not everything appeals to me.

This apron (shown left) knitted in a kid mohair blend boggles the mind, as do knitted photo frames, knitted ties, and the patterns for knitted pants (Not only do I fear these stretching out of shape, I also have nightmares about crotches dragging below my knees), but some of the quirky patterns appeal to me (such as the toe-less novella socks) so I would assume that someone somewhere will appreciate the kitsch in these items.

I would much recommend this book if you are looking for something a little different. I like to think of myself as somewhat an artisan, and I like it, whilst my sister thinks herself more of a beginner, and after browsing mine is planning to purchase her own copy of the book (rather than just steal the pattern or two she likes out of mine!)

a special xmas present...

Sometimes it can be difficult for girls and their Dad's to communicate - I know this, because when I was 16, I spent a year in Portland, Oregon as an exchange student and the longest converstation I had with my Dad went something like this:-

Ring, Ring (That's the telephone incase you don't get it!)
Dad: Hello?
Me: Hi Dad, how are you?
Dad: Good, I'll just get your Mother... (pause)
Mum: Hi honey!

Fortunately, this is something that we both have been working really hard at fixing in the past 9 years or so. When I first got my licence, my Dad worked on an old Peugeot 504 for me to drive around (this car affectionately known as The Bomber). When I came home from college on the weekends if Iwanted to talk to Dad I would start by asking him anything about this car. This was the first of many 'special' topics my Dad and I now talk about.

When I started my blog, my Dad took great interest in it - infact, I think he is my most loyal fan :) When I call home now, it doesn't matter if Mum is home or not, because Dad and I have plenty to talk about because he knows what is going on in my life.

Sometimes, like when I got my Singer, I call home specifically to tell Dad about it. Because my Dad has an interest in antique machinery, and I luff my singer, this very quickly became one of those 'special' topics for me and Dad, as evidenced by this post.

So when I opened up a present from my Parents on xmas day, I knew my Dad had a bit of input into it...



See - just like my Singer, with one small difference
As you can see - I included Pierre for scale. This is actually a cute little box of sewing accessories that my Dad found in Spotlight a couple of months ago. Apparently he didn't buy it right away because he wasn't sure I would like it, but after he showed Mum it was a big goer!

And he luffed my reaction on xmas day when I opened it.... How funky is it! When I get back to Sydney I'll take a pic of it next to my big Singer.

Totem, Totem, wherefore art thou Totem...?

It is official - next to nobody stocks Paton's Totem anymore.

I am still working on Dilby's xmas sweater, and RAN OUT OF BLUE YARN!

I needed, maybe, half a ball to finish... and at first, I couldn't find Totem anyware

Finally I went to Woolsy Trading Post in Shannon Avenue (listed as a stockist on the Patons website), which is what I imagine a yarn shop to be 20 odd years ago. The yarn is stuffed into pigeon holes along the wall (still in the plastic wrapper) there is a cross stich and embroidery section at the back, a department full of sheepskin products AND also at the shop, for some reason, they sell second hand office furniture.

They had a great wall of Totem - you could probably see it from the moon. The assistant grabbed out the shade card, and we discovered I was looking for colour #3096. I didn't care what dye-lot, because I planned to use a few cunning Zimmermann ideas to camoflague any irregularities if they existed.

This is where Patons started to annoy me. They have a shade of light blue which is colour #3069. There was millions of balls of that shade at the shop, but no luck with what I wanted. And - apparently Patons is making some changes to the Totem line, so I pretty much left with the idea that I had Buckley's of finding yarn.

However, today Mum went into Lincrapt to buy some supplies, and I went along for the ride. Surprise, surprise, this Crafting Department Store had not yet been overrun by their own-branded-acrylic-novelty-yarns-that-more-often-than-not-knit-up-into-something-that-can-only-be-compared-to-carpet-underlay. I found ONE (1) ball of Totem colourway #3096. YAY!

The funny bit of the story - Mum and I went into Dymocks after Lincrapt, and left the shopping bag on the counter when purchasing a book. Thankfully we returned to the store 10 minutes later - Irony was taking a day off. After my terrible search for the yarn, I expected it to disappear before I had gotten it home. But the nice Dymocks ladies looked after it until we returned to the store. I am now happily continuing Dilby's xmas sweater and should be finished before 2007 :)

And another shopping with Mum story...

Remember way back when, and I reviewed this cosy little LYS?

Well, after making a special trip out to Point Lonsdale yesterday to show off Wildpurl to my Mum, I discovered that, unfortunately, Wildpurl is an LYS no longer. Alas - it is now a homewares store / small fashion boutique with a yarn section shoved into the back corner :( The assistant behind the counter called it "expanding" (like it was a good thing), but I think it was just too difficult for them to stay afloat stocking only yarn and knitting notions. So whilst they still stock their up-market yarns, they now stock up-market decor for yuppies - sad but true. However, the trip was not a complete loss.
In a basket marked sale items, I found these two little gems:Both off them hardcover, and each $15-20 below the RRP.

Knitting with Beads covers both embellishing with beads as part of finishing a garment, and knitting with the beads prestrung on the yarn. The beading appeals to me, lots of projects do not, so in short, for me it is an inspirational text on technique.

Nursery Rhyme Knits was too cute to not come home with me. I think an Ipsy-wipsy Spider blanket may fall off my needles in the future. Or perhaps little Bo Peeps sheep? Either way, I am glad that Lucy-lou is doing the kids thing because I have an excuse to knit some of these.

Whilst Mum and I were down on the Peninsula we decided we may as well check out the Op Shops and Vinnies (thrift stores)

I grabbed a whole lot of vintage patterns (complete with models sporting questionable hairstyles - oh and questionable mottos, like the one I photographed for the top of this post), a biography of Edward VI (for when I finally get around to making something from Stanmore's Tudor Roses), The house that wool built, which I think is a study of architecture of the early australian sheep stations (It had wool in the title and was only $2 - I had to give it a go) and a wonderfully colourful hardcover knitting pattern book that I have 'carbon dated' to be from the 80s using very scientific techniques....

Now this is one of the sweaters included in this book. It uses 11 colours, care to guess the designer?

Well, if you cheated and looked in the bottom left hand corner you would have seen Kaffe Fassett's name. Yes, I like the colour work, but I don't think this is quite for me. I am rather dubious about the rolled up sleeves, and the Jetson's style joins at the arms and collar.....

Sock and bunny crazy

So with all that sock yarn I have been purchasing lately, am I knitting any socks???

YOU BETCHA!!

(disclaimer: the first part of this post may look like it was posted by the yarn harlot)


(from left to right - all these socks are knit on 2.75mm needles)

1. Jaywalkers knit from handpainted yarn I stumbled across in Tarcutta during my last roadtrip (more on the Tarcutta craft shop with the next pic!). As previously mentioned, these remind me of a rainbow paddle pop, except for the "I survived Lord Voldemort" colourpooling mid calf.

2. Tuffers' second pair of xmas socks, knitted from WGTUP (Wendy's generic toe up pattern) in ONline supersock highland colours purchased at yarns galore.

3. RPM in the Knittery's Merino 4ply sock in "Wonder" colourway. These socks are incredibly thin (almost like stockings) and stretchy. They feel really delicate to knit. The pattern has been altered to be completed toe-up, short row heel, and with a mutliple of 9 minus 1 stitches so the spirals are all equal.

4. Tuffers' xmas socks #3 in Opal petticoat, once again WGTUP, but with a 3x3 rib ankle. These should be complete by the time I get back to Sydney.

5. (finally, eh!) Brenda's Pembrokeshire pathways socks in the Knittery's merino cashmere sock in "Waterlillies" colourway. This pattern is beautiful, easy to remember the repeats, but not "mindless knitting". These won't be going anywhere in the handbag or reserved for car knitting - instead, I am trying to do a couple of row repeats a day because the cables are annoying me. Luff knitting with yarn, however! It makes a nice soft yet dense fabric. Very cushy - can't wait to walk on it :)

And speaking of stumbling onto yarn in Tarcutta.... I made another pitstop there on xmas eve, and was very happy to find the craft shop open again. The yarn had been restocked, and I had difficulty not picking the baskets to take it all with me :)

I got two skeins of handdyed angora and one skein of a yummy green handspun merino/silk. The colour variations show up much nicer in the skeins, but I got so excited with the new toys and they were all balled up before I got the camera out... The one on the right is spring / summer colours, not quite as bright as it appears here, and the other is a stormy seas colour palate. I'm thinking a nice little hat with brim for the latter. The handspun will become a nice lace scarf/ mini-shawl (it's approx fingering weight.)

By-the-way, the handpainted yarns are labelled "Annie Gregg Designs" - I googled it and came up naught, so it must be a local fibre-artist. I think I may do a little investigating on a future trip to Tarcutta because these yarns are gorgeous. If you know anything about "Annie Gregg Designs" let me know :)

And onto bunnies...
One of my best friends has gotten three new six week old gals - one tan, one brown and one black, names Faith, Hope and Grace (no, I don't know which is which, but the names are oh so cute!) Pierre is completely fascinated by the bunnies, and likewise, they are fascinated by him. Last night he was running around the outside of the hutch and the gals were following him around on the inside of the hutch - completely fearless!
Here is P trying to get a closer look at these fluffy creatures that are actually smaller than him. He can pull off strange stunts when he is curious. (Those who are wondering, the Australian cattle dog in the background is Sam - he is interested in both bunnies and teeny tiny dogs)

happy happy joy joy!

When Tuffers asked what I wanted for Christmas, I didn't take any chances - I sent him an email with a couple of specifics on it, including a webpage, a phone# and retail hours...

What I really, really wanted was...
...this...

A gorgeous wooden umbrella swift (skein holder) and a ball winder. These can be rather tricky to find, so based on a recomendation from David, I sent Tuffers out to Petlin's, where I hear they looked after him rather well.

Can you see the pile of nice neat centre-pull balls behind the winder? Man I love this toy. Of course, Tuffers, being an engineer, is already drawing up plans to motorise the ball winder :)

And in case you are wondering, the skein on the swift is the Knittery's Merino Cashmere sock in Choc Mint. (and a big hug to Tuffers for taking the photo)

And in other news, did you see this cute google storyline? Look even closer, and you will notice that that is a male (or perhaps a lesbian?) kangaroo knitting. Do you think this is google's attempt to subvert the ideology of knitting (or family?)